Ogunlana, S O; Li, H and Sukhera, F A (2003) System dynamics approach to exploring performance enhancement in a construction organization. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 129(5), pp. 528-536. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Governments and firms in developing economies are concerned about ways to improve performance of local firms. A wealth of research has already discussed the reasons for decline in performance and suggested a number of possible improvement strategies. Among these documented strategies, there are many options for developing economies. The selection among these options, however, depends upon the unique organizational set-up and many other local factors. Moreover an implementation scenario of the selected options requires an experimentation period either by actually implementing the option as a policy or simulating the complete process in a model and thus creating a laboratory for learning. The former option is costly while the latter requires dynamic modeling of engineering processes integrated with the local influencing factors on overall performance. The latter approach is adopted in the present research using system dynamics techniques to model the problem. The effects of three strategic policies on the performance of a construction firm have been simulated. A case study is conducted to validate the utility of some selected policies for performance enhancement.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Asia; engineering firms; Pakistan; performance; project management |
| Index terms: | project management, option, implementation, case study, influencing factor, construction organization, system dynamics, Pakistan, Asia, dynamic modelling, laboratory, developing economy, experiment, construction firm, strategy, engineering firm |
| Subjects: | decision analysis, research management, management, economic development, Geography, firms, project management theory and practice, modelling and simulation, contractual arrangements, regions and continents, risk assessment, data collection methods, organization, computing systems |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Procurement, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, International Construction, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here